This month’s Occupy National Gathering in Philadelphia was the latest effort to recapture the national spotlight for Occupy after a winter plagued by raids, evictions and inclement weather.

May Day, NATO, and now NatGat paint a picture of a movement now coming together from disparate parts of the country to prove they are still going strong and ready to tackle issues on the national stage. These efforts also show how Occupiers are actively searching for a path forward to overcome the myriad challenges their unique protest has faced so far.

On the night of the Fourth of July, occupiers gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the Occupy National Gathering planned to end their five-day event with a march to the Philadelphia Art Museum, where they could hear a concert put on by the musical group The Roots and watch fireworks.

The attention Douglass brought to American delusions in the 1850s can be compared to Occupiers, who are likely to bring attention to delusions of freedom and liberty today. Certainly, Americans have every right to celebrate. Yet, the capitalist society has wholly failed to serve the human needs of many of the people who have occupied. They, like the Americans who rose up to fight for independence, feel—to lift a few words from Douglass’ speech—harshly and unjustly treated and seek redress.

Kevin Gosztola is livestreaming from the Occupy National Gathering, where attendees are participating in break-out “visioning” sessions and discussing what the goals of Occupy should be. No discussion of tactics, just goals for the future. Here’s how to participate.

A small group of military veterans from Veterans for Peace decided they were not going to leave Independence Mall, even though their permit expired at 9 pm EST. One of the veterans, Bill Perry, negotiated with police as occupiers came to see the veterans risk arrest.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter’s incredibly stupid and reckless decision to stop the fire department from giving water to participants of the Occupy National Gathering during a heat wave has now been reversed in the wake of the public outcry. But we need to prepare for this tactic at other events. Help us get life-saving, reusable water bottles out to others.

A Philadelphia firehouse across the street from a Quaker meeting house, which occupiers have been using as a home base throughout the Occupy National Gathering, gave occupiers access to their water once again this morning. The firefighters had initially granted occupiers access to the water, but had subsequently closed and locked a gate to block them from using it.

At least twenty-seven people were arrested in an impromptu march at the Occupy National Gathering in Philadelphia. Two of the people arrested were livestreamers—Jesse Hadden of Occupy PDX and “Cowboy Mike” of Occupy Philly. Two of the people arrested were also medics.

What would a world look like that had a culture and an economic system that places human need above corporate greed, and how do we bring that world into being? Who cares what it is called. Call it Socialism, Call it Real Democracy Now, and Call it Chunky-Monkey-Cherry Garcia. The world needs to change radically, it needs to change dramatically, and it needs to change fast.

American Autumn: an Occudoc is an invitation for you to participate in that positive change.

The Occupy National Gathering is almost here — just in time for a brutal heat wave.

From June 30th to July 4th, Occupy activists from around the country will meet at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall for a week of activism and movement building, culminating in a 99 mile march from Philadelphia to Wall Street!

#NatGat organizers anticipate thousands to attend, camp out, and engage in sleepful protests on city sidewalks.